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for your comments Mike and Else. I’ll endeavour to call these Cortinarius rather than Thaxterogaster from now on.

Even though I’m fascinated by Corts I find them a little daunting to identify… particularly when there are so many still undescribed.

I have a feeling that these are the same as observation 70995 and observation 71418. They have been fruiting profusely in my area all winter. When I have the time I will check them out under the scope and try to key them out.

I know of one species that was described from central Victoria with an obconical pileus and exposed gleba… Thaxterogaster brunneus (= Cortinarius orphinus)… but I don’t think it’s a very good match.

The description of Cortinarius nebulobrunneus (in Else’s link) seems close, mentioning a white ‘bloom’ of universal veil remnants and a slightly waxy feel, but the photo of that species doesn’t really resemble these.

Recent molecular studies (Peintner & al. 2001a, 2001b) have shown that species of Thaxterogaster are included in Cortinarius where they are polyphyletic, some of these secotioid forms can be associated with subgenera of Cortinarius(Soop 2010), it may be possible to associate this collection with subgen. Phlegmacium with the viscid cap with what looks to be white veil remnants and pale gills, I wonder if the stipe was dry or viscid?

The article that Else mentions below is an excellent read, thanks for providing the link Else:)

recently the following article on such Australian Cortinarii was published:

Danks M, Lebel T, Vernes K, 2010. ‘Cort short on a mountaintop’ – Eight new species of sequestrate Cortinarius from sub-alpine Australia and affinities to sections within the genus. Persoonia 24: 106–126 (free, at http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/pimj)